No unit on Alabama's roster faces as much pressure as the Crimson Tide's offensive line, which has seemingly regressed every season since 2021. The Alabama coaching staff recognized issues with the offensive line, overhauling the room by hiring former NFL and Oregon offensive line coach Adrian Klemm and bringing in 11 new players. Alabama will have four new starters on the offensive line after Kadyn Proctor, Kam Dewberry, Parker Brailsford, Geno VanDeMark, and Jaeden Roberts declared for the NFL, and Wilkin Formby entered the transfer portal.

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The Returners

Michael Carroll - Sophomore (6-foot-6, 318 pounds)

Carroll is the lone returning starter on Alabama's offensive line with six starts among 14 game appearances last season for the Crimson Tide. He took over at right tackle after playing guard as a five-star recruit at IMG Academy, but Alabama is experimenting with the offensive line during the offseason, with Carroll getting reps at right guard during spring camp and summer workouts. The Freshman All-SEC is viewed as Alabama's best and most versatile offensive lineman. Wherever Alabama decides to line up Carroll, that position is one of the few that the Tide won't have to worry about on offense.

Jackson Lloyd - Redshirt Freshman (6-foot-7, 317 pounds)

Alabama didn't take long to settle the competition at left tackle, with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb naming Jackson Lloyd the starter after the Tide's third spring practice. Lloyd is a very athletic tackle out of Carmel High School in California, specializing in pass protection. Lloyd made five game appearances last season for the Tide as the primary backup to Kadyn Proctor, bulking up in his second season in Tuscaloosa. If Alabama's offensive line is to improve drastically from last season, Lloyd will face a lot of pressure to replace a top-15 draft pick in Proctor. His athleticism should bode well against speed rushers off the edge, but the question around Lloyd is, can he handle power rushers, and can he be physical in the run game to give the Tide options on the left side in the run game?

Casey Poe - Redshirt Sophomore (6-foot-4, 324 pounds)

Poe worked in two games last season for Alabama against ULM and Eastern Illinois. The Lindale, Texas, native committed to the Crimson Tide over Georgia, Oklahoma, and LSU, primarily working along the interior of the offensive line for Alabama. His scout team work helped prepare the Crimson Tide's defense last season for several key matchups they faced. With numerous vacancies along the offensive line, Poe has an opportunity to work his way up the depth chart for the Crimson Tide and earn more reps as he continues his development in Tuscaloosa.

William Sanders - Redshirt Sophomore (6-foot-3, 315 pounds)

Alabama's projected starter at left guard missed all of spring practice with a back injury, but will be ready to go for the Tide during summer workouts and fall camp. Sanders played in all 15 games for Alabama last season, with seven games where he played 15 or more snaps along the offensive line. He was the preferred backup behind Kam Dewberry last season, so despite not logging any starts, Sanders has earned meaningful reps in the trenches. He's shown promise in the run game for Alabama while also being an effective pass blocker.

Mal Waldrep Jr. - Redshirt Freshman (6-foot-5, 322 pounds)

With Sanders and Ole Miss transfer Ethan Fields dealing with injuries during spring practice, Waldrep was Alabama's "starting" left guard during A-Day, giving an extended look at what he brings to Alabama's offensive line. Waldrep started the day well, creating gaps in the run game and holding Alabama's pass rush at bay, but the efforts waned as the day went on. The Seale, Alabama, native got in two games as a true freshman last season and missed the final three games due to a lower-body injury. If his A-Day performance is any indication, Waldrep is determined to make his way on the field for the Crimson Tide. If the offensive line suffers similar turnover and injuries it did last season, Waldrep could be a servicable option in the trenches.

The Newcomers

Chris Booker - Freshman (6-foot-4, 285 pounds)

Chris Booker is an athletic offensive lineman who spent time on both lines of scrimmage in high school last season, graded as a four-star offensive lineman from Atlanta, Georgia. He chose the Crimson Tide over Florida, Kentucky, and South Florida, and while he isn't expected to contribute as a true freshman, he'll earn valuable practice experience and could get reps on special teams to ease his way into the college ranks before competing for opening spots on Alabama's offensive line in the future.

Nick Brooks - Sophomore Texas Transfer (6-foot-7, 339 pounds)

Alabama lost one Iowa-native in Kadyn Proctor to the NFL and added another in Texas offensive lineman transfer Nick Brooks. Brooks appeared in five games with three starts for the Longhorns last season, including the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma. He brings versatility with experience at both guard spots and right tackle. As Alabama experiments with Michael Carroll at both guard and tackle, Brooks is a player who can fit in both spots if Carroll goes down or is locked into one position. His 6-foot-7, 339-pound frame brings an imposing presence along the line of scrimmage and shouldn't have to worry about speed rushers if he's playing along the interior.

Bryson Cooley - Freshman (6-foot-6, 325 pounds)

Cooley is another highly sought after prospect that the Crimson Tide landed after he flipped from LSU. The four-star, Mississippi native can play both guard and tackle, relfecting the versatility that Alabama is pursuing along the offensive line with players who can play either center and guard or guard and tackle. Cooley already being over 315 pounds is notable, as his size may already be near where Alabama wants him to be, opening the door for early contributions on special teams or as a reserve early in the season should Alabama find itself in mop-up duty in games.

Racin Delgatty - Redshirt Junior Transfer From Cal Poly (6-foot-3, 301 pounds)

In the same press conference that Ryan Grubb named Jackson Lloyd the starting left tackle, he said that Cal Poly transfer Racin Delgatty took the reins on Alabama's center opening, and that was relfected through spring practice, where Delgatty took almost all of the first-team reps on A-Day. Despite being a little on the smaller side at 6-foot-3 and 301 pounds, he showed power and an ability to anchor in pass blocking at his previous stop. The question is, can that translate to SEC-level competition, where he will face Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, and Auburn, among other SEC teams, and Power Four teams, should Alabama make the College Football Playoff?

Ethan Fields - Redshirt Junior transfer from Ole Miss (6-foot-3, 319 pounds)

With William Sanders missing time during spring practice, it opened the door for others to get first-team reps at left guard, which appeared to be where Ole Miss transfer Ethan Fields was slotting in for the Crimson Tide before he missed A-Day with an injury. Fields saw action in 19 games for the Rebels, playing in all 15 games last season during Ole Miss's CFP semifinal run. Can Fields continue to push during fall camp? That's the question, and if he doesn't win a starting role at left guard, could he compete at right guard with Michael Carroll, versatile enough to go back to right tackle?

Ty Haywood - Redshirt Freshman Transfer From Michigan (6-foot-5, 312 pounds)

Alabama circled back on Ty Haywood after missing out on the Texas native out of high school. Haywood saw action in three games during his freshman season at Michigan, including at left guard in the Wolverines' Citrus Bowl loss to Texas. The former five-star got reps at guard during the spring after coming out of high school as a tackle prospect. Haywood has the talent to compete for special teams reps and can earn meaningful playing time for Alabama this season, with an opportunity to compete if any vacancies come open in 2026.

Jayvin James - Redshirt Junior Transfer From Mississippi State (6-foot-5, 318 pounds)

The redshirt junior Mississippi State transfer ended spring practice as Alabama's starting right tackle after starting nine games last season for the Bulldogs at left tackle. He allowed just three sacks on 856 snaps last season. Bringing in an SEC-experienced starting tackle via the transfer portal is rare, but it gives Alabama versatility on the offensive line with Michael Carroll, who can play both guard and tackle. Right tackle has been a sore spot for the last two seasons on Alabama's offensive line, with Elijah Pritchett and Wilkin Formby battling in 2024 and Formby again battling in 2025 with Carroll. With Formby now at Texas A&M, it looked like Carroll would solidify the position for the foreseeable future before his move to guard. Can James be good enough in the run game to justify moving a former five-star to a position he hasn't played since high school?

Tyrell Miller - Sophomore (6-foot-5, 322 pounds)

After spending one season at College of San Mateo, Tyrell Miller now resides in Tuscaloosa after his one season in junior college. The top-20 JUCO player in the class is the right size to compete along Alabama's offensive line, but the raw talent might need refining before he sees offensive line reps during the season. Early-season games against East Carolina and SEC bottom-feeders Kentucky and Mississippi State could help Alabama develop the young talent on its line early, helping ease the pain if there is turnover or injuries late in the season against a tough second-half schedule.

Kaden Strayhorn - Redshirt Freshman Transfer From Michigan (6-foot-2, 313 pounds)

Strayhorn brings interior versatility to Alabama's offensive line after one season in Ann Arbor with Michigan. The former four-star, IMG Academy prospect played with Carroll in high school, seeing action in two games for Michigan during the 2025 season. Similar to Haywood, he saw extensive time in Michigan's Citrus Bowl loss to Texas. Strayhorn provides good depth for the Crimson Tide at center behind Delgatty, where he spent most of his time during Alabama's A-Day scrimmage.

Prediction

The theme of Alabama's offensive line additions this offseason has been "versatility." However, that doesn't necessarily mean that Alabama will continue to rotate offensive linemen the way they have over the last two seasons, but it does provide Alabama the ability to have multiple players who can slot into different roles in the event of injury or subpar play. The pressure is ramped up for the offensive line this season after Alabama's worst rushing season since 1955 in 2025, but the coaching staff seems to understand that, based on the moves made this offseason. Adrian Klemm brings strong experience from his days with the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers, most recently serving as an offensive analyst for the USC Trojans. The last time he served as a position coach in college was 2022 with the Oregon Ducks, where his offensive line paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher while only allowing five sacks on quarterback Bo Nix. As we said with our running backs breakdown, if you expect the offensive line to flip its script completely and go from 104 rushing yards per game to 200 rushing yards per game, you'll be disappointed. If the offensive line can take a step in the right direction and protect the Tide's quarterbacks, while increasing the Tide's rushing yards per game from 104.5 to a more manageable 120, it's a sign that the offensive line is improving. Every player in the offensive line room has remaining eligibility, so if the Tide's offensive line takes the right steps in 2026, they could be set up for a huge step in 2027.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.